Shooter One Of Two Defendants Sentenced In Series Of Armored Truck Robberies That Left One Person Dead

ATLANTA – Ashley Henderson has been sentenced to 75 years and Stacey Dooley has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for committing a series of armored truck robberies in the Atlanta area between October 2010 and March 2011.

“The sentencing of these two defendants closes one chapter on a disturbingly violent robbery crew that had all Atlanta area law enforcement on high alert back in 2010 and 2011,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “These robberies grew increasingly violent and dangerous not only to armored car couriers, but to the public who had the misfortune to be nearby.  The dismantling and sentencing of this robbery crew makes our district a safer place, and the long prison terms provide justice for the truly senseless murder of Mr. Castillo.”

J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “The sentencing of both Dooley and Henderson removes two violent career criminals from our streets. While the FBI is pleased with the role it played in bringing these two individuals to justice, our thoughts and prayers remain with those harmed in the wake of this violent crime spree, particularly the family of mortally wounded Garda courier Gary Castillo.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: The defendants, Ashley Henderson and Stacey Dooley, were part of a group that robbed armored car couriers between October 7, 2010, and March 30, 2011.  During the robberies, one or two gunmen would approach a courier after the courier made a cash pick-up from a location or as the courier was about to restock an ATM machine with cash.  Other members of the robbery crew would act as lookouts during the robberies, with one being the designated getaway driver.  During a robbery in January 2011, Henderson shot the victim courier multiple times at close range, critically injuring him.  In March 2011, Henderson shot the victim courier multiple times, which resulted in the victim’s death.  Altogether, members of this crew were responsible for six robberies involving over $470,000. 

The evidence established that Henderson, Dooley, and their co-conspirators, were involved in the commission of the following robberies:

• The robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier just after he made a cash pick-up on October 7, 2010, at the Mex America Latino Services located in Marietta, Ga.

• The robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier who was restocking cash in an ATM machine on November 11, 2010, at a Bank of America located in Buford, Ga.

• The robbery of a Loomis Armored courier who was restocking cash in an ATM machine on November 29, 2010, at a Wells Fargo Bank located in Snellville, Ga.

• The robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier who was heading to an ATM machine to restock it with cash inside the Mall of Georgia on December 7, 2010.

• The robbery of a Loomis Armored courier who was restocking cash in an ATM machine on January 21, 2011, at a Wells Fargo Bank located in Stone Mountain, Ga.  Ashley Henderson shot and seriously injured the courier during the robbery.

• The robbery of a Garda Cash Logistics courier outside the Kroger Grocery Store located on LaVista Road in DeKalb County, Ga.  Ashley Henderson fatally shot the courier, Gary Castillo, after Castillo made a cash pick-up of $11,000 from the store. 

Henderson pleaded guilty to five counts of Hobbs Act robbery (armed robbery of the couriers) and three counts of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.  Dooley pleaded guilty to six counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.  

In addition to Henderson and Dooley, the following persons have also entered guilty pleas as a result of their role in the robberies:

• Quentin Booker, 36, of Douglasville, Ga., pleaded guilty to five counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

• Edwin Thornton, 31, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

• Derrick Powell, 26, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

• Michael Johnson, 31, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

• Ronnie Little, 22, of Stone Mountain, Ga., pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

• Veronica Bullard, 35, of Lithia Springs, Ga., pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery.

Desiree Jones, 29, of Snellville, Ga., pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully transferring a firearm knowing it would be used in a crime of violence and received a sentence of five years in federal prison.

Henderson, 30, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., to 75 years in prison to be followed by five years supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay an $800 special assessment.  Dooley, 37, originally from Charlotte, NC, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on April 16, 2014 to be followed by five years supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay an $800 special assessment.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with significant assistance and resources provided by the Gwinnett Police Department.   Other departments providing invaluable assistance were the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office, DeKalb County Police Department, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, Marietta Police Department, and the Cobb County District Attorney's Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jill E. Steinberg and Tracia M. King are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.